Slider for separable fasterners



Jan. 27, 1942.

M. H. LANG- 2,271,141

vSLIDER FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS` Filed June 1, 1939,

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111V 1I. Je 5 24 34 WITNESS INVENTOR l -fM//x/LA/Gs ATTORN EY-S meansare venting unintentional movements of the slider 5 along the fastenerstructure.

`locking means usually comprisea locking memyprovide a slider movementalong 'lowing description thereof when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing .in which 45 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of aPatented Jann-27, 1942l UNITED STATES TENT oFF-rcs f v SLIDER Fon'SEPARABLE FASTENERS Max H. Lange, Maspeth, N. Y., assigner to WaldesKoh-I-Noor, Inc., Long Island City, N. a

corporation of New York,

Application June 1, 1939, serial No.' 276,829 c (crea-205)- Thisinvention relates to separable fasteners of the slideoperated type andmore particularly 'to sliders for such fasteners. wherein lookingincorporated for automatically pre- Such automatic ber pivotally mountedon the slider body and a spring for normally urging the pivoted lockingmember into engagement w1th the interlocking lo elements positionedwithin the slider, in combination with, a pull tab associated with thelocking member to lift or move the latter out of locking position whenit is desired to move the slider in the direction for disengaging theinterl5 locking elements of the separable fastener.

Itis the object of. the present invention to embodying new and improvedmeans for automatically locking the slider'against A further object ofthe invention is to pro- 30 vide` an improved slider having lockingmeans which will normally engage with the interlocking elements of theseparable fastener but which is so constructed and arranged withrelation tol .Y

the pull tab that it may be locked in disengaged :v5

position so as to enable free movementof the slider along the rows-ofelements and to permit opening of the separable fastener by exerting a`separating forc'e on the stringer's thereof without danger of damagingo r ripping volf the interlock- 40 ing elements.

Other objects and advantages of the locking slider of this inventionwill appear from the folslider embodying the invention with the pull tabpartially broken vaway and shown in the safety lock position; Fig.

2 is a longitudinal sectional view of. the slider shown in Fig. 1,illustrating the relation of the locking parts in the safety lockposition' and showing 'a few of the interlocking elements of theseparable fastener in elevation to illustrate the relation of thelocking member with respect to such elements in its unlocked position;

the rows of interlocking ele- 20 I fingered relation.

.of a housing or cap member isa view similar to Fig. 2 but showing thepull .tab positioned so as to enable the locking member to engage withtheinterlocking elementsof the separable fastener; Fig. 4.is a Viewsimilar to Figs. 2a-nd 3 and illustrates theA action of thelockingelement when the slideris moved to interlock-the interlockingelements -or to the right as viewed in such figure-and Fig. 5 is an endview'of Fig. l, the slider being viewed from the left of Fig. 1. y y

The separable fastener of the type with which this invention isconcerned usually comprises a pair of stringers or tapeshavingvreinforced opposed edges to are attached in spaced relation. Theinterlocking elements ofthe fastener are all, similar in construction.and the elements of each Stringer are arranged in staggered relationwith theelements of the other Stringer so that they can come togetherand interlock properly in intergagement of the interlocking elements arecontrolled by themovement of a slider which embodies a body portionhaving substantiallyparallelly spaced wings and being formed so as toprovide a substantially Y-shaped channel between the plates throughwhich the interlocking elements pass in themovements of the slider.l

In the drawing the spaced wings or plates of the sliderare-indicated bythe numerals l and il, such wings being connected by 'an integraltransverse portion l2 of reduced. dimensions.- Adjacent to thetransverse' portion I2 is a transverse memberI I3 which is wedge-shapedintermediate the plates Ill andv il (see Fig. 5) and extends up throughthe upper plate IB to terminate in an upwardly projecting stud portionIt of enlarged dimensions and having a shoulder portionwhich engageswith the outer surface of the plate I0 (see Figs. 2 and 3). The memberI3 is assembled on the slider body by inserting it through alignedapertures in the plates l0 and II and is permanently secured in positionby upsetting its lower end against the undersurface The stud portionofthe back or rear plate H. l5 of the member I3 is disposed within oneend I5 which is secured to the stud portion I4 in any suitable fashionsuch as by rivets or by indentingit into indenta- 50 tions formed oneach side of the stud It as is indicated at I6 in Fig. 1 of the drawing.The

' other end of the housing memberl I5 is secured manner as by l1 intothe plate I0 in any suitable means of a wedge-shaped depending tab Fig.3 55 tetra! with the housing member I5 and permawhich the interlockingelements The-engagement and disennently secured ina wedge-shaped'slot I9formed in the adjacent end portion of the plate Il), as

is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 of the drawing. Positionedwithin thehousing or cap member VI5 and extending longitudinally ofthe slider, isa locking member I9 which is'loosely retained in upright position by theside walls of such cap member and is loosely conflnedagainstlongitudinal movement within the cap member by the lug.portion I4 andthe opposite end of the and 2| 'have their longitudinal edges disposedin opposed relation to the upper surface of the top plate I0, such edgeof each leg portion beingA formed to-provide two cam surfaces 23 and 24vintermediate its ends and connected by a de' pending portion 25 whichisspaced from the top plate I0. The cam surfaces 24 oi' the'leg portionsextend from the depending portions 25 in aconcave manner toward the endof the locking member which lies adjacent to the stud portieri` I4 toprovide two triangularly shaped portions whosel apexes 26 bear againstthe outer surface of the plate III when'the locking member I9 ishorizontally disposed, as is shown in Fig. 2. 'Ihe cam surfaces 23 ofthe leg portions extend from the depending portions 25 in: the oppositedirection and are-of smaller radius than the cai surfaces 24. Theeamsurfaces 23 form the inner edges yof a pair of depending portions 21whose lower ends normally extend intov av recess or aperture 28 providedin the top plate I 0.. The depending A29 of the locking member I9 isnormally mainvthe separable fastener.

in engagement with the interlocking elements of 'Y Thus `when thetrans-v verse portion 3|.ofthe pull tab is at rest inthe region of thecam surfaces 24, the locking detent tained in locking engagement withtheinterlockportion 21 of the leg 2I of the locking member differs fromthe depending portion 2-1 of the leg 20 thereof in that it isadditionally provided with a depending detent 29 formed vintegrally withsuch portion 21 of the leg and being offset therefrom as is illustratedmore clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

The housing or cap member I5 isy provided on each side in the regiondened bythe cam surfaces 23 and v24 with an elongated slot or recess 30through which extends a transverse portion-3| of a pull tab 32, suchtransverse portion 3I being disposed between the cam surfaces, ofthe-leg'portions of the locking member 'I9 and the exterior surface ofthe plate I0. VThe transverse portion 3l of the pull tab is so formedwith relation to the cam surfaces 23 of the looking member I9 that whenit is positioned between such cam surfaces 23 andthe upper surface ofthe plate I9, as is lshown in Fig. 2, the detent 29 will be withdrawninto the aperture 28 of the top plate I I) out\of engagement with theinterlocking elements 33 of the fastener structure. When such transverseportion 3I of lthe pull tab is disposed between the cam surfaces 24 andthe outer surface ofthe plate` I9 in the position shown in Fig. 3th'ecam surfaces 24 are so formed that the locking detent 29 is enabled tocome into engagement with the interlocking elements 33 of the separablefastener. Due to the offset nature of the locking detent 29, it engagesonly with the elements 33of one row of the fastener, just beyond theouter ends of the interlocking elements in the other row.

From the' foregoing description it will be evident that in-the normal orat rest position of the parts, the pull tab 32 is in the positionillustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing with the transverse portion 3|thereof disposed inthe region defined by the cam surfaces 24- of thelocking member I 9,-

,such transverse portion 3| functioning'as a fulcrum about whichthe-.locking member I9 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction,as-viewed ments of the separable fastener, whereby movement of theslider in the opening direction or to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 isprevented. vWhen it is desired to open the interlocking elements of theseparable fastener, the pull tab 32 can be operated so thatthetransverse portion thereof 4bears against the depending portions 2l ofthe locking member I9, the cam surfaces 24 being so formed at this'region that under the force exerted by the transverse portion 3I of thepull tab, the locking member is lifted sufficiently to. withdraw thelocking detent 29 thereof -from engagement with the interlockingelements. Due to the fact that during this action the points 25 of thellocking-*member I9 come into engagement with the upper surface of theplate III' of the slider, the locking member moves with a pivotal actionabout such points 26 against the tension of thespring 34. By exertingsufficient force to move f the transverse portion 3| of the pull tabpast the depending portions 25 of the locking element,

such transverse portion comes into the region dej fined by-the camsurfaces 23 of. the lockingele- 5o.

ment wherein it is retained so that the u ser is enabledto unlock ordisengage the interlocking elel ments simply by pulling the stringersapart without any danger of the locking detent Acoming into engagementwith the interlocking elements rushing through the slider. During the"passage 'of the transverse portion' 3l of the pull tab into the safetylock formed by the depending portions 2l andthe cam surfaces 23, thelocking detent 2l is withdrawn to its outermost position and thenreturned slightly when the transverse portion 3| is in its safety lockposition, such return however n`ot being great'enough to enable thelocking detent 29 to come into engagement with the interlocking elementsof the slider. Themovement of the transverse portion 3I past thedependingk porytions 25 of the locking element is accomplishedwith asnap action under` the influence-of the lug portion I4 up against thebody portion of the. spring and pivoting thelocking member aboutlSecured at one end between the lug 'portion I4 such end as a fulcru'mmounted within the such float unit is caused at times to seesaw againstthe tension of the spring ,3Q to lift the locking detent 29 thereof outof its normal lockingJ position. The locking member preferablyis sodesigned with respect to the other parts that this action of the pulltab entirely withdraws the locking detent 29 into the recess 28 out ofcontact with the interlocking elements 33 thereby preventing dragging ofthe detent along the upper s faces of the interlocking elements as thelatter are being interengaged.

In order to obviate any possibility of the locking the interlockingelements asA detent 29 catching the slider is moved in the closingdirection or to the right, as viewed .in 4, such detent is provided withan inclined lower edge surface 35 whichv enables the interlockingelementsto cam of their-path, as will be a study of Figs. 3 and 4 thelocking detent out readily understood from of the drawing.

It will be observed therefore that in the foregoing construction theinterlocking element is an independent, self-contained, rigid memberwhich.

a casing member and which during the several operations of the pull isloosely enclosed within tab, is iulcrumed about three points, namely,the transverse portion 3l of the pull tab 32 when the slider isstationary with the detent engagingthe interlocking elements as isillustrated in Fig. 3; the portions or points 26 of the locking elementwhen the pull tab is operated to move the slider to of the separableopenI the interlocking elements fastener and the top edge portion of thelocking element when the pull tabis operated to move the slider in theclosing as illustrated in Fig. 4. `These several operations contained,rigid float direction or to the right detent at one end of the rigidlocking member are accomplished because such memberby reason of itsbeing loosely '1 casing-member is in the nature of a o at unit and is soarranged with respect to the spring '34 whose free end slidably engagesthe outer longitudinal edge portion of the float unit at apoint abovethe detent 29 thereof tof A I normally urge the latter to its lockingposition,

and the transverse portion 3l of the pull tab, that in the longitudinalmovements of such portion 3i and the forces exerted thereon during theoperations of the pull tab and consequently the slider,

about the transverse portion 3l and at other times to move about thelegs 26 or the top edge of the float unit above the legs 26, dependingupon the position of the transverse portion 3i of the pulltab withrelation to the float unit and the direction of. force applied to suchtransverse portion.

also designed to main- The above construction is tab withrespect tainthe positionof theA pullv to the locking element so that the latter isre-A tained in unlocked position to enable free move-- ment of theslider on the rows of interlocking elements either in the closing oropening directions and in the latter case enabling the fastenerstructureto apart the tapes or strngers thereof.

While I have in this application specifically shown and described apreferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood thatmodications and changes may bodment without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the scope the following claims.

I claim: 1 1. A slider for se arable fasteners comprising'a pair of'plates spaced to receive the interlocking elements of the-fastener, ahousing xed to one of said plates and having elongated longibe made insuch lem-- thereof as defined in be opened simply by forcing- Ygitudinal ed'ge of said oat unit having an 'movement with relation tosaid plate, said rigid unit having a'rigiddetent at one end projectinginto an aperture in the associated plate and having at its other end arigid portion adapted, in at least one,of the positions of the rigidunit, to bear in 'disconnected relation .against a flxed surface portionwithin said housing to afford a fulcrum for the rigid unit, the innerlongitudinal edge of said rigid unit being provided with a cam surface'approximately as long as the longitudinal openings in said housing,resilient means normally urging said detent into locking engagement withthe fastener elements in the slider, a pull tab having a transversemember extending through the openings tween the cam surface of saidrigid unit and the associated "plate,A said cam surface being arched andcoacting withsaid transverse member of the pull tab to cause said vrigidunit to rock about its fulcrum portion in the'operations of the slider.

2. A slider for separable fasteners comprising a pair of plates spacedto receive the interlocking elements of the f astener, an independent,selfunit overlyingv one of said plates and loosely mounted for rockingmovement with relation to such plate, means secured to said plate forloosely confining said iioat unit in its rocking movements, said floatunit extending longitudinally of the slider and having a rigid aperturein said plate and having at its other end a plurality of spaced surfaceportions adapted to rest against said plate and confining means to aordfulcrum points for the oat unit, and said inner longitudinal edgelncluding an arched portion to provide a cam surface, resilient meansnormallyurging said del tent into engagement with fastener elements inthe slider, a pull tab having a transverse member Yextending betweensaid float unit and the associated plate, said 'transverse'membercoacting with the cam surface to cause sad-float unit'to fulcrumportions when pulling pivot about its forces are applied to the pull`tab in the opera tions of the slider. s

3. A slider for separable fasteners comprising a pair of plates spacedto receive the interlocking elements of the fastener, a housing xedlymounted on one of `said plates, an independent, self-contained, rigidfloat unit overlying said plate and loosely mounted within the housingfor rockingl movement with relation to said` plate, said float-'unithaving a rigid leg at one end extending towards the exterior surface ofsaid plate and in at least one of the positions of the float unitresting against sa'd plate surface to afford a fulcrum point for the-oat unit, said float unit into an aperture Y tudinal edge po 'on ofsaid oat unit being shaped for engagement with a spring member and theinner longitudinal edge of said float unit intermediate said leg anddetent including an arched portion spaced from the exterior surface ofsaid plate and formnga cam surface, a spring member carried by theslider and having one end engaging with and bearing against the outerlonfloat unit at a pointy adjacent to the detent end thereof to normallyurge said detent to 'its locking position, and a pull tab having atransverse member extending beadapted t'o project into anprojecting.tween said float unit and said plate and confined between said leg anddetent, said transverse member coasting with the inner arched edgeportion of said iioat unit upon movement of the pull tab to withdrawAsaid detent from its locking position against the yielding pressure fsaid spring member.

4. A slider for separable fasteners comprising a pair of plates spacedto receive the interlocking elements of the fastener, a housing fixedlymounted on one of said plates, an independent, self-contained rigidiioat unit overlying said plate and loosely vmounted within the housingfor rocking movement with relation to said plate, said iloat unit havingan outer longitudinal edge portion shaped for engagement with the springmember land being recessed on its inner longitudinal edge to form aninwardly extending rigid projection at one end thereof `and an inwardlyextending rigid-detent at the other end thereof, said projectionoverlying the exterior surface of said plate and in at least one of thepositions of tlie .float unit resting. against said plate surface toafford a fulcrum point for the oat unit, said pulling force is appliedto said pull tab, and a spring member aiiixed at one end to ysaid sliderand overlying said iioat unit, the free end of said spring memberslidably engaging and bearing against the outer longitudinal edgeportion of said oat unit at a point adjacent to the end of the range ofVmovement of said transverse member in the direction of said detent tonor,- mally urge the latter to its locking position.

5. A slider for separable fasteners comprising a pair of plates spacedto receive the interlocking elementsof the fastener, a lug projectingoutwardly from one of said plates, ahousing ilxedly attached to said lugand said plate,an independent, self-contained,vrigid float unitoverlying said plate-and loosely mounted within -said housing forrocking movement with relation to rigid detent projecting into anaperture provided in said plate, a spring anchored at one end betweensaid lug and housing and extending over the outer longitudinal edge ofsaid iloat unit to a point adjacent to the detent end o'fsaid; oat unit,the free end of said spring being in slidable engagement with andbearing against the outer longitudinal edge portion of said float. unitto normallyl urge said detent to its locking position and a pull tabhaving a transverse member ex.

tending through said housing and between said iioat unit and plate andhaving a range of movenient longitudinally of the slider between saidleg and detent, said transverse member being adapted to coact with theinnerarched edge portion of saidy float unit intermediate said leg anddetent to withdraw the latter from its locking position against thepressure of said spring when a pulling force is 4applied to said pulltab.

l 6. A slider for separable fasteners comprising a pair of platesspaced-to receive the interlocking elements of the fastener, a lugprojecting outwardly from one of said plates, a housing enclosing saidlug and being flxedly attached thereto,

-an independent, selfecontained, rigid oat unit overlyingsaid plate andloosely mounted within said housing, for rocking movement with relationto said plate, said vrigid float being positioned intermediate one endof said housing and said lug and consisting of a lU-shaped .plate havingan outer folded longitudinally extending edge affording an engagingsurface for a spring member and its parallelly disposed longitudinallyextending inner edges provided with a pair of inwardly projecting legsat one en d .andapair of inwardly extending projections at its otherend, said legs being positioned adjacent to said lugfand adapted to bearon the exterior surface of said plate'in at least one of the positionsof the oat unit toafford fulcrum points for the iloat unit and. at

least one of said projections being provided with a detent adapted toproject .through an aperture in said plate, a spring anchored at one endbesaid plate,'said oat unit having an outer longitudinal edge portionshaped for engagement with r a spring member and being arched on Vitsinner longitudinal edge to form an inwardly project-` ing, rigid leg atone end thereof and an inwardly extending, rigid `detent at the otherend thereof,

said rigid leg being positioned adjacent to lsaid I lugand overlyingthe' exterior Vsurfaceoi! Asaid plate and in at least one-of thepositions of saidoat unit resting against said plate surface to 60aiiorda fulcrum point for th'float unit, saidi tween said vlug andhousing and extending over said float unit toa point adjacent'to thedetent end of said float unit, the free end of said spring 1 being inslidable engagement .with and bearing against the outer foldedlongitudinal edge of said iioat unit to normally urge said detent to itslocking position, and a. pull tab having a transverse member extendingthrough said housing and between said float unit and plate and having arange of movement longitudinally' of the slider between the legs andprojections of said float unit, the inner longitudinal edge portionsen`- gageable by said transverse member being arched to provide twolongitudinally extending cam surfaces and coacting with ysaid member towithvdraw the detent from its locking position against the pressure ofsaid spring.

a. Max H. A Nciflsz.A

